Appliance knobs



-July 2, 1957 M, w. MARRAPESE 2,797,592

APPLIANCE KNOBS Filed Sept. :5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 j 5 j I 0 L.f Marlus Marrapese ATTORNEY M. w. MARRAPESE 2,797,592

APPLIANCE mons Filed sept. s. 1952 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR Marra/DeseBY-@Tglw Manus July 2, 1957 ATTORNEYS United States Patent APPLIANCEKNOBS Marius W. Marrapese, Bedford, Ohio, assignor to l`he Patent ButtonCompany of Tennessee, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn., a corporation of TennesseeApplication September 3, 1952, Serial No. 307,617

16 Claims. (Cl. 74-548) This invention relates to improvements inappliance knobs, and more particularly to the control knobs for gas andelectric stoves and other appliances.

It is well known that young children tend to turn on electric and gasappliances, which often create real hazards and sometimes seriousinjury. Various attempts have been proposed heretofore to provide knobswhich will prevent accidental operation of such appliances, ormanipulation thereof by small children, but these have depended onthreaded connections between the parts, or other objectionablecharacteristics thereof, which have not been satisfactory for efficientmanufacture and use.

One object of this invention is to overcome these objections and toimprove the construction of knobs for controlling gas, electric, andother appliances.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfcontained knob forgas and electric stoves, and other appliances, that will preventoperation of the valve or switch thereof by young children, and alsoprevent accidental operation by unintended body contact with the valveor switch, and which will be practical for manufacture and use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a controlknob forgas and electric stoves and other appliances, which is entirelyself-contained, without depending'upon ,any special construction of thevalve stem or electric switch shaft to operate these devices.

These objects may' be accomplished by providing a ribbed body, with ahub that is rotatably mounted on a central post, which latter has a backplate fixed thereto. These parts may be molded, of plastic or othersuitable material, or otherwise formed, in the desired shape. A springis interposed between the respective partys, normally tending toseparate them, and they are mounted for relative axial movement againstthe tension of the spring for engagement of the teeth, frictionsurfaces, or other clutch means provided therebetween upon said relativemovement, The knob itself, which is rotatable on the post, being formedof a body (having ribs or other surface suitablefor gripping) with itshub, normally turns free of the post and independent of the latter untilit is shifted axially to cause engagement of the clutch means, whenrotation of the knob will also cause turning movement of the post andalso of the appliance control means connected therewith, either a valvestem or a switch shaft, or other control device. These parts of theappliance knob are entirely self-contained without requiring a specialthreaded connection of the 'appliance device and are so made as to bemanufactured and used in a practical form.

The invention is illustrated in certain embodiments in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the appliance knob embodyingthis invention; K n

Fig. 2 is a cross-section therethrough, with the knob disengaged;

Fig. 3 is asimilar view showing the knob engaged; andl Figs. 4 to 12,are cross-,sections through modified forms of the appliance knob. Y

This appliance knob may be used for controlling the valve of a gas stoveor the electric switch of an electric stove, or other electric appliancethat will prevent operation of the valve or switch by young children, oraccidental or unintended operation thereof by bodily contact with thevalve or switch. I have shown a portion of the appliance control, eithera valve stem or an electric switch shaft, generally by the numeral 1,and it will be understood that this is intended ymerely as an example ofthe control means for the appliance to which the invention may beapplied.

The appliance knob includes a central post generally designated at 2,which is tubular and has a suitable provision for connection with theshaft 1, such as a split D-shaft that will provide a press-lit or otherconnection between the post 2 and the shaft 1 or other control means.The post 2 is partially closed at its upper end by an inturned flange 3,provided with a central hub 4 therein, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

At its lower end, the post 2 is provided with a radially extending backplate 5, which projects outwardly there-v from and has a surrounding rim6 thereon that may be shaped in any suitable or desired ornamental form.This rim preferably is made with an indicator element 7, to show theposition of the appliance control means, as for instance the offposition thereof.

A knob is provided on the post 2 and comprises a body 8 having radialribs 9 on the periphery thereof to facilitate grasping and turning ofthe knob. The body 8 has an outturned flange 10 on the lower edgethereof in the embodiment shown in Figs. l to 3, which is spacedinwardly from, and surrounded by the rim 6, on the back plate 5.

The body 8 carries a hub 11, spaced inwardly therefrom by an interposedradially extending web 12, which hub 11 is journalled on the post 2 andfree for sliding movement axially relative thereto.

The sliding movement of the knob relative to the post 2 is yieldable bya coiled compression spring 13 interposed between the web 12 and theback plate 5, being sleeved over the lower end portion of the hub 11.The sliding movement of the knob in the opposite direction is limited bya cap plate 14, which extends over the upper end of the post 2, andoverlaps the adjacent end of the hub 11. The cap plate 14 is confined bya rivet 15, which is inserted through the cap plate 14 and through thehole 4 in the flange 3, having is lower end turned over to con-v finethese parts in the relation shown.

A cover plate 16 extends over the upper end of the knob, engaging at itsperiphery in a seat 17, formed in the upper end of the body 8, closingthe latter and forming an ornamental top to the knob. The cover plate 16has a plurality of spring lingers 18 that extend downward in frictionalengagement with the inner wall of the body 8 yieldably holding the coverplate in place'.

Provision is made for a clutch connection between the spinning knob andthe post 2 to permit free turning movement of the knob relative theretoin one position,-

and yet upon axial shifting movement of the knob, the post is turnedthereby to shift the position of the appliance control l to an olf orother position. One eX- ample of this clutch connection is illustratedin Figs. 2 and 3, and other examples are shown in Figs. 4 to l2.

In Figs. 2 and 3, the clutch connection is provided by linterengagedteeth 19 and 20 formed respectively on the 'back plate 5 and on thelower edge of the body t3, the teeth being spaced yapartcircumferentially in each row and 4so disposed as to interengage witheach other to form `a positive jaw clutch. In this forrnvthe teeth 19and 20 extend radially of the appliance knob and are spaced apartcircumferentially. l

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the spinning knob 21 is` providedwith axially'elongated teeth 22, in posi'- v Patented. July 2, 1957Vtion to engage substantially parallel teeth 23, extending along thelength of the post 24. These teeth 22 and 23 thus form a splinedconnection between the body 21 and the `post 24, which may be disengagedfrom each other upon axial shifting movement of the body relative to thepost under the influence of the coiled spring 2S. A further modificationis shown in Fig. 5, in which the spinning knob 26 has teeth 27 inposition for coacting clutch engagement with teeth 28, formed on thepost 29. In this example, the teeth 27 and `28 are sloped upward andinward from the outer edge of the knob 26, toward the center, whichrelation, however, may be reversed as indicated at 30 and 31 in Fig. 6.In the latter form, the teeth slope outward and upward from the center.

In the examples shown in Figs. l to 6, the teeth are shown as formed onthe body of the spinning knob. However, if desired, the teeth maybeformed on the hub thereof, as illustrated at 32 and 33 `in Fig. 7, inwhich event they slope inward and upward toward the center.

It is also possible to use friction clutch connections between thespinning knob and the post, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. ln Fig. 8,the coiled spring lis replaced 'by a spring clutch generally indicatedat 34, having radially extending fingers thereon that bear against theback plate 35, while the base of the spring clutch bears against thelower face of the knob 36. This forms a friction drive therebetween andupon downward pressure on the knob, the frictional contact will beincreased to the point where the post that is connected with the backplate 35 will be turned to shift the appliance connection.

Another form of friction clutch connection is shown in Fig. 9, in whichan O-ring 37 is supported by the back plate 38 in position rforfrictional engagement by the knob 39. Otherwise this form will functionsubstantially as described with respect to the form shown in Fig. 8.

In Fig. l0, I have shown a pull type of connection between the knob 40and the post 41, provided 'by a normal separati-on thereof by la spring42, A jaw clutch is shown at 43-'44 which will be engaged upon outwardpulling movement imparted to the knob 40 axially thereof.

Another form of pull connection is shown in Fig. 1l, in which the knobis shown at 45, separate from the hub portion 46, that is fixed to thepost 47. A jaw clutch is shown at 4849 upon axial shifting -of the knob45 relative thereto.

An example of an application of this invention to Ia gas valve or anelectric switch is shown in Fig. l2 in which the post that is adapted tobe connected with the valve or switch is illustrated at 50 and issecured to the back plate 51 by one or more drive screws 52 insertedtherethrough. The knob 53 normally is disconnected from the back plate51 but capable of engagement and actuation thereof by any of the formsset forth and described above. The construction illustrated in Fig. l2provides for a cover plate that will remain in a fixed position withrelation to the valve or switch stem, thus enabling any legend inscribedon the cover plate to remain in a correct reading position when the backplate shows ofi It will be apparent that the invention may be applied tothe valve stem or shaft of an electric switch for la stove or otherappliance so that manual adjustment thereof may be accomplished, whendesired, but normally the parts are disconnected so that shifting of theknob by children or accidentally will not cause a shifting of the valveor switch. At the same time, the parts are entirely self-contained,simple and inexpensive to manufacture, 'and may be applied readily tothe device to be controlled thereby.

Normally the parts of the knob are in the relation shown in Fig. 2 inwhich the rotatable knob 8 lis shifted outwardly on the post 2 by thespring 13, with'the clutch means disengaged. The knob 8 is thus free torotate relative to the appliance control without turning the latter.

The cap plate 14. limits the1 outward `movement of the knob.

8 relative to the post but is free to allow rotation and also to limitrelative movement in the opposite direction.

All of these parts are confined in the rotatable knob, without requiringthreaded connections between the parts. Thus a practical unitarystructure is provided, with the parts fully enclosed, and without dangerof disconnection. At the same time, this structure provides effectivecontrol of the appliance.

While the invention has been illustrated yand described in certainembodiments, it is recognized that variations and changes may be -madetherein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a rotatable knob .having a hub portionjournaled on the central post, means form-ing an engageable clutchbetween the central post and the rotatable knob, spring meanssurrounding the post normally tending to hold `the clutch meansdisengaged, said hubA portion being slidable axially relative to thepost for engagement of the clutch means, and means for limiting saidaxial sliding movement of the hub portion, said limiting means includinga cap plate extending over the end of the hub portion, a fasteningmember connected with the cap plate and extending into the central post,and means for confining an end of the fastening member in the centralpost.

2. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portionjournaled `on the cen tral post, a back plate fixed to one end of thecentral post and extending radially over an end of the rotatable knob,means forming ian engageable clutch between the back plate and therotatable knob, and spring means surrounding the post normally tendingto move the rotatable knob axially relative to the post to disengage theclutch means, said rotatable knob surrounding the opposite end of thecentral post, a cap plate mounted within the rotatable knob overlyingthe hub portion and extending over the last-mentioned end of the centralpost, and a fastening connecting the cap plate with said end of thecentral post.

3. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portionjournaled on the central post, a back plate fixed to one end of thecentral post and extending radially over an end of the rotatable knob,means forming an engageable clutch between the back plate and therotatable knob, and spring means surrounding the post normally tendingto move the rotatable knob axially relative to thepost to disengage theclutch means, said rotatable knob surrounding the opposite end of thecentral post, a cap plate mounted within the rotatable knob overlyingthe hub portion and extending over the last-mentioned end of the centralpost, and a fastening connecting the cap plate with said end of thecentral post, said cap plate being unconnected with the rotatable knobfor bodily shifting movement of said knob in one direction relative tothe post and for limiting the sliding movement in the opposite directionrelative thereto by abutment with an end of the hub portion.

4. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portionjournaled on the central post, a back plate fixed to one end of thecentral post and extending radially over an end of the rotatable knob,means forming an engageable clutch between the back plate and therotatable knob, and spring means surrounding the post normally tendingto move the rotatable knob axially relative to the post to disengage theclutch means, said rotatable knob surrounding the end portion of thecentral post opposite the back plate, a cap plate mounted within therotatable knob overlying' the hub portion and extending. over thelast-mentioned end4 of the central post, and a fastening connecting thecap platewith4 said end of the central post, said cap plate beingunconnected with the rotatable knob for bodily shifting movement ofsaidknob in one direction relative to the post and for limiting thesliding movement in the opposite direction relative thereto by abutmentWith an end of the hub portion, and a cover plate detachably mounted inthe rotatable knob over the cap plate and closing the end of therotatable knob.

5. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portionjournaled on the central post and axially movable relative thereto, aback plate xed to one end of the central post and extending radiallyover an end of the Ihub portion of the knob, means forming an axiallyengageable clutch between the outer face of the back plate and therotatable knob upon axial inward movement of the knob on the post, aseparate member overlying outer end portions` of the central post andthe hub portion of the knob, and a fastening device connected with saidmember and extending into the post and securing the separate memberthereto.

6. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portionjournaled on the central post and axially movable relative thereto, aback plate fixed to one end of the central post and extending radiallyover an end of the hub portion of the knob, means forming an axiallyengageable clutch between the outer face of the back plate and therotatable knob upon axial inward movement of the knob on the post, aplate separate from the knob and post and overlapping adjacent outer endportions thereof, a fastening member connected with the plate andextending into the post holding the plate and the knob thereon, saidknob having an axially projecting wall portion surrounding the plate andfastening member, a cover plate seated Within said wall portionoverlying the first-mentioned plate and enclosing the latter, and meansfor securing the cover plate to the knob.

7. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portionjournaled on the central post and axially movable relative thereto, aback plate fixed to one end of the central post and extending radiallyover an end of the hub portion of the knob, means forming an axiallyengageable clutch between the outer face of the back plate and therotatable knob upon axial inward movement of the knob on the post, saidknob having a surrounding wall portion spaced from the hub portion andhaving a radially extending web therebetween, and yieldable meansinterposed between said web and the back plate normally urging the |knoboutwardly relative to the post.

8. An applianceknob comprising a central post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portionjournaled on the central post and axially movable relative thereto, aback plate xed to one end of the central post and extending radiallyover an end of the lhub portion of the knob, means forming an axiallyengageable clutch between the outer face of the back plate and therotatable knob upon axial inward movement of the knob on the post, saidknob having a surrounding wall portion spaced from the hub portion andhaving a radially extending web therebetween, and a coiled springsleeved over the hub portion on the post and interposed between the weband the back plate normally urging the knob outwardly relative to thepost.

9. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having a hub portionjournaled on the central post and axially movable relative thereto, aback plate fixed to one end of the central post and extending radiallyover an end of the hub portion of the knob, means forming an axiallyengageable clutch between the outer face of the back plate and therotatable knob upon axial inward movement of the knob on the post, saidknob having a surrounding wall portion spacedfrom the hub portion andhaving a radially extending web therebetween, a coiled spring sleevedover a portion of the hub surrounding the post and interposed betweenthe web and the back plate normally urging the knob outwardly relativeto the post, a plate separate from the knob and post and overlappingadjacent outer end portions thereof for confining the knob on the post,and a fastening member extending through adjacent portions of the plateand post with heads on opposite'ends thereof confining the plate -to thepost.

l0. An appliance knob comprising a center post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a control knob mounted on the centerpost for rotary and axial movement relative thereto means forming anengageable clutch between the center post and control knob, said controlknob having a hub portion journaled on the center post and having anannular recess therein surrounding the hub portion, and a coiled springsurrounding the center post and having one end seated in said recess andpermanent means fixed to the post to limit the outward travel of theknob. l

1l. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having an outer endand an appliance end and having a hub portion journaled on the centralpost, a back plate fixed to the central post at a Zone remote from theouter end of the knob and extending radially and substantially coveringthe appliance end of the rotatable knob, means forming an engageableclutch between the central post and the rotatable knob, and spring meanssurrounding the post normally tending to hold the clutch meansdisengaged.

l2. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having an outer endand an appliance end and having a hub portion journaled on the centralpost, a back plate fixed to one end of the central post at a zone remotefrom the outer end of the knob and extending radially and substantiallycovering the appliance end of the rotatable knob, means forming anengageable clutch between the back plate and the rotatable knob, andspring means surrounding the post normally tending to move the rotatableknob axially relative to the post to disengage the clutch means.

13. An appliance knob comprising a central post having a recess thereinadapted to receive therein an appliance control member, a rotatable knobhaving an outer end and an appliance end and having a hub portionjournaled on the central post, a back plate fixed to one end of thecentral post at a zone remote from the outer end of the knob andextending radially and substantially covering the appliance end of therotatable knob, means forming an engageable clutch between the centralpost and the rotatable knob, spring means surrounding the hub portionnormally tending to hold the clutch means disengaged, said clutch meanscomprising a row of clutch teeth extending continuously around thecentral post and fixed thereto, and a second row of clutch teeth inposition for engagement therewith and extending continuously around theaxis of the rotatable knob and fixed thereto.

14. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having an outer endand an appliance end and having a hub portion journaled on the centralpost, a back plate fixed to the central post at a zone remote from theouter end of the knob and extending radially and substantially coveringthe appliance end of the rotatable knob, means forming an engageableclutch between the central post and the rotatable knob, spring meanssurrounding the post normally tending to hold the clutch meansdisengaged, said clutch means comprising a row of clutch teeth formed onthe back plate and extending continuously around the central post, and asecond row of clutch teeth in position for engagement end and anappliance end and having a hub portion journaled on the central post, aback plate tixed to the central post at a zone remote from the outer endof the knob and extending radially and substantially covering theappliance end of the rotatable knob, means forming an engageable clutchbetween the central post and rotatable knob, spring means surroundingthe hub portion normally tending to hold the clutch means disengaged,said clutch means comprising frictional engaging means between therotatable knob and the central post.`

16. An appliance knob comprising a central post adapted to be connectedwith an appliance control member, a rotatable knob having an outer endand an appliance end and having a hub portion journaled on the centralpost, a back plate fixed to one end of the central post at a zone remotefrom the outer end of the knob and extending radially and substantiallycovering the appliance end of the rotatable knob, means forming anengageable clutch between the back plate and the rotatable knob, andspring means surrounding the post nor- 2 mally tending to move therotatable knob axially relative tothe post to disengage the clutchmembers, and a cover plate extending over the outer end of the post andadjacent portion of the rotatable knob.

Y References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS711,443 Sharp Oct. 14,1902 893,184 Mercer July 14, 1908 1,113,613 GoozeyOct. 13, 1914 1,444,212 Seiss Feb. 6, 1923 1,622,783 Heyman Mar. 29,1927 2,341,647 Parkhurst Feb. 15, 1944 2,501,008 Schramm Mar. 21, 19502,502,915 Atkins et al. Apr. 4, 1950 2,516,771 Herscher et al. July 25,1950 2,590,263 Mead et al Mar. 25, 1952 2,602,351 Ringler et al. July 8,1952 2,742,127 Mumford et al. Apr. 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,680 GreatBritain July 17, 1899 of 1899 159,563 Germany Apr. 11, 1905 477,898France Nov. 12, 1915 t 867,622 France Aug. 18, 1941

